K18

K18 works with a patented K18Peptide, a breakthrough oligopeptide that carries essential amino acids (the building blocks of hair) deep into the hair cortex. Once inside, it targets broken disulfide bonds and replenishes lost amino acids. This process reconnects the hair’s inner structure – restoring strength, elasticity, softness, and resilience from the inside out.

Yes, of course! While K18 is famous for reversing bleach and colour damage, it also repairs everyday stress from heat styling, UV rays, and environmental factors. Even if you don’t chemically treat your hair, K18 can help keep it healthier, shinier, and less prone to breakage.

K18 is not a traditional protein treatment. Instead of coating hair with protein, the K18Peptide actually repairs broken keratin chains inside the hair. That means stronger, longer-lasting results without the risk of making hair stiff or brittle, which can happen with over-using protein treatments.

No, the K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Mask is super lightweight and designed to absorb quickly. It works from the inside out, so your hair feels soft and bouncy instead of coated or heavy.

Conditioner can create a barrier that prevents the K18Peptide from penetrating deeply into the hair. The K18 Mask is designed to be applied to freshly shampooed hair. If you require extra moisture, you can apply conditioner after you have waited 4 minutes for the mask to work.

Yes, the K18Peptide™ is included across the K18 haircare range, from the mask to the shampoos, conditioner, oil, and AirWash. This ensures you get molecular repair and protection in every step of your routine.

Each product is powerful on its own, but the full K18 system gives complete repair and protection:

• When you need to repair damage: use the K18 Detox Shampoo + K18 Mask.
• When you need to protect against daily damage: use the Damage Shield Shampoo + Conditioner.
• Every day: apply the Molecular Repair Hair Oil.
• Between wash days: refresh with the AirWash Dry Shampoo.
• During styling: use the HeatBounce Conditioning Heat Protectant + Astrolift Reparative Volume Spray.

K18 and Olaplex both target damaged hair but work differently. Olaplex focuses on repairing disulfide bonds, while K18 goes deeper to reconnect keratin chains with its patented peptide technology. Many stylists and users find K18 works faster, with visible results after just one use, while Olaplex may require repeated treatments. The best choice depends on your hair type, level of damage, and personal preference.